Injured players still injured; Datsyuk named captain for Russia

DETROIT – Quick update from Detroit Red Wings practice, which took place at Detroit City Arena.

Coach Mike Babcock said none of the injured players – Johan Franzen (concussion), Jonas Gustavsson (groin), Pavel Datsyuk (lower body), Darren Helm (groin), and Jonathan Ericsson (ribs) – will be back for Thursday’s game at New York against the Rangers.

“No possibility of getting anybody back,” Babcock said. “I’ve said this a number of times this year, enough to make me want to puke, is that I’m focused on the players that are here.”

Jimmy Howard will start in goal.

Tomas Jurco will take Tomas Tatar’s spot in the lineup Thursday.

“He’s a big, talented guy who can really skate and he’s pushing for a job on our team,” Babcock said. “So last time I thought he did a real good job and he gets another opportunity this time. It’s a good thing for hm. He’s just got to make sure that we don’t send him back.”

The Wings have not scored on the power play in their last 21 chances and face a Rangers team with the ninth-best penalty kill in the league.

“I don’t think we have to worry about anybody’s penalty kil, we have to worry about our power play,” Babcock said. “We focused a ton on it today and we have to score more goals but at the same time we can’t give up any.”

Datsyuk was named captain of the Russian Olympic team for this year’s Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

“Fantastic, it’s a great honor and deservingly so,” Babcock said.

This is Datsyuk’s fourth Olympic appearance.

Henrik Zetterberg is also the captain for Sweden.

“We think (leadership is) a big part of what we’ve got going on here,” Babcock said. “Now obviously we’d like to get them all back and playing and all of those things but in the meantime it’s a great honor for him and for Z.”

Babcock is the coach of Canada.

“When I drive my vehicle and my work in my vehicle, that’s when I do my calls and my Olympic stuff,” Babcock said when asked how much he thinks about the Olympics. “Other than that, I mean, I watched the Rangers play last night. (Rick) Nash is in the game so I watched Nash play. I watched (Ryan) McDonagh he’s going to play for the U.S., but I was watching getting ready for the Red Wings’ game. So it was easy. When I was out in Anaheim I saw (Corey) Perry play. It’s straightforward I guess. (Jonas) Hiller was playing and it’s going to play for the Swiss. You just do your job and it’s straightforward.”

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